Eagles can't hold on against Bemidji State

By Kristie Bicket (Zion, Ill./Zion-Benton Township)

FORT PIERCE, Fla. -- Still in search of its first win of 2009, the Northwestern softball team was defeated in its doubleheader to Bemidji State 6-12, 5-13.

The Eagles confidence at bat was evidenced as one by one each girl on the line-up hit passed the infield, tallying seven hits total in the first inning. Amanda Rodger's single to right field resulted in 2 RBI, followed by a string of hits and three more RBI, ending with a 5-0 lead.

Although the Beavers had a run of their own in the first inning, Rhonda Morgan (Andover, Minn./Meadow Creek)'s double to center field was followed by Jenny Kortus (Milaca, Minn./Milaca)'s single, giving the Eagles one more run and a four point lead.

NWC's huge advantage over Bemidji in the first inning didn't last long as the Beaver's rallied in six runs in the third inning. The next four at bats for the Eagles consisted of only three hits and no runs scored for the rest of the game. Although the runs didn't come in, Morgan, Rodgers, and Lauren August (Maple Plain, Minn./West Lutheran) each went 2-4 at bat.

The mound was shared by Kelsey Hanson (St. Francis, Minn./St. Francis) and Ashley Olson (Baxter, Minn./Brainerd) with three innings a piece and allowing 10 earned runs combined in game one.

Coming into the second game against Bemidji, the Eagles were able to take a 3-0 lead in the first inning with a double by Kortus with 2 RBI and a single by Weimer with 1 RBI. Although the Beavers hit three homeruns and brought in five runs in the second inning, their two errors in the third gave the Eagles the chance to tie the score at 5-5.

Northwestern's defense couldn't keep up with Bemidji's bats as the Beavers gained a huge lead by hitting six of their seven hits to the outfield, bringing in eight runs in the fourth. Two more at bats for the Eagles wasn't enough as the game ended early with Bemidiji's 13-5 lead after five innings of play.

NWC's third pitcher of the day, Rodger's, yielded nine earned runs in game two.

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